When I first considered doing a blog, I received two conflicting signs. The first was a New Yorker cartoon featuring two dogs, with one telling the other: I had my own blog for awhile, but I decided to go back to just pointless, incessant barking.

Besides a good laugh, that gave me pauseuntil I had a Chinese lunch in which my fortune cookie read: Many people will be drawn to you for your wisdom and insights. Of course, this was the same restaurant whose cookie had predicted: You will excel in the field of medical research, but I chose to take it as a good omen to charge ahead.

Almost every week, I have the privilege of sharing my views with NU's print and Web readers about breaking news, trends and/or personalities in the industry. Often, a letter or two (or a dozen, in some controversial cases) come my way. Space is at a premium in a newsmagazine, but a blog gives both of us a much broader opportunity to sort through the many challenges confronting this industry.

Indeed, a blog by definition provides many advantages over a print magazine column.

For one, a blog will allow me to comment immediately on a breaking story, rather than wait for the magazines next edition to go to press.

For another, while my print columns are normally devoted to one topic each week, I can file an unlimited number of comments on the blog, driven by the news rather than press deadlines.

Third, Dan Gillmore, author of We The Media, points out that a blog turns a lecture into a conversation. Letters to the editor are welcome, but with a blog, readers will have a chance to respond immediately to one of my posts, as well as to the comments of others, and I can answer back in kind. Blogs create a genuine dialogue, debate and community.

Fourth, I invite readers to post not just reactions to my opinion pieces, but also critiques of NUs content and story selection. I also look forward to generating many article ideas and gaining invaluable feedback on how we can do our jobs better.

On the blog, I will post each editions print column and invite responses. Over the course of the week, Ill comment on breaking news stories as they occurshorter takes than in print, meant mainly to spur a reader dialogue.

Ill also post a question from time to time to launch a discussion about a key industry development or trend. In addition, Ill call attention to major stories appearing on our Web news service or in our newsmagazine, inviting readers to comment on what weve published, while encouraging ideas for subsequent articles.

In this way, the blog will complement my print column, not replace it, while providing readers with more opportunities to make their voices heard. Dont be shy. Im eager to get your feedback and insights.